Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Side in December
December in Side suits a cool-weather break, not a beach holiday. Average daytime highs are 11°C, nights fall to around 5°C, and about 14 days have rain, so pack for damp walks and chilly evenings rather than reliable sunshine. For a UK traveller, the appeal is a modest lift in daytime temperature, not summer warmth. Go if you are happy to work around showers; choose another month if swimming and outdoor lounging are the priority.
Long-term climate averages for Fatsa, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Side, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Fatsa.
- Average daytime high
- 11.0°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 4.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -1°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +3.3°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 12.1°C
- year to year: 11°C to 13°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 3.1h
- 34% of 9.1 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 14
- 108 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 23.5°C
- 2017-12-04
- Record low 1991-2020
- -7.5°C
- 2002-12-27
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 36 min
- 3076 km, mid-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Side. Within Turkey it is 16th of 18 (Turkey in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Side is 3.3°C warmer by day and 2.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Side peaks at 11.0°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 16.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 4.9°C; one night in ten drops to -0.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 23.5°C (2017-12-04) and the coldest night -7.5°C (2002-12-27).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 14 days with 1 mm or more, 108 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2018 with 171 mm, the driest 2020 with 36 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 12.1°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 11.0°C to 13.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.5°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 3.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.1 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:48 and sets about 17:02 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 66%.
Is December a good time to visit Side?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Side on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.
Pack for cool days, cold evenings and rain
Side can feel mild when the weather turns brighter, but December needs a winter packing plan. The warmest 10% of days reach 17°C or more, which can make time outdoors more comfortable; that is not the everyday expectation. At the other end, the coldest 10% of nights fall to -0.5°C or below, so a warm coat is more useful than an extra set of beach clothes. Bring layers, a waterproof jacket and shoes that can cope with wet ground. With rain on about 14 days, keep outdoor plans flexible rather than committing every day to a long spell outside. Evening plans should allow for a definite chill.
Treat the sea as a backdrop, not the main activity
At around 12°C, the sea is cold, so December is a poor fit if comfortable swimming is central to your holiday. The year-to-year range of 11°C to 13°C offers little reason to expect warmer water. Daylight also shapes the trip: there are about 9.1 hours available, but only around 3.1 hours of sunshine, so do not confuse a usable day outdoors with a sunny one. Put walks and other outdoor time into the brighter part of the day, and leave room for indoor breaks when rain arrives. This month works best for travellers content with fresh air and layers, rather than those seeking warmth on a lounger.
A little perspective
Side through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.8°C | 2.6°C | 9.5°C | 3.0 | 111 | 14 | 0% |
| February | 9.0°C | 2.2°C | 8.1°C | 3.5 | 89 | 13 | 0% |
| March | 11.6°C | 4.5°C | 8.1°C | 3.9 | 114 | 16 | 1% |
| April | 15.2°C | 7.8°C | 10.1°C | 5.2 | 106 | 15 | 2% |
| May | 19.1°C | 12.2°C | 14.9°C | 6.3 | 104 | 15 | 5% |
| Junebest | 22.7°C | 16.4°C | 20.9°C | 7.9 | 93 | 13 | 20% |
| Julybest | 25.0°C | 19.3°C | 24.4°C | 8.5 | 76 | 12 | 49% |
| Augustbest | 25.5°C | 20.0°C | 25.5°C | 7.5 | 80 | 13 | 60% |
| September | 22.7°C | 16.8°C | 23.4°C | 5.9 | 119 | 14 | 23% |
| October | 19.5°C | 13.3°C | 19.6°C | 4.3 | 142 | 15 | 10% |
| November | 15.2°C | 8.4°C | 15.6°C | 4.0 | 113 | 11 | 1% |
| DecemberSelected | 11.0°C | 4.9°C | 12.1°C | 3.1 | 108 | 14 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Side in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Side hot in December?
Side is cool in December: the average daytime high is 11.0°C and nights average 4.9°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Side in December?
The sea around Side averages 12.1°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 11°C to 13°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Side in December?
Side sees about 14 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 108 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (171 mm) and the driest was 2020 (36 mm).
How sunny is Side in December?
Side gets around 3.1 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.1 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Side compare with the UK in December?
Side is on average 3.3°C warmer than London by day in December (11.0°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Side?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Side reached 23.5°C on 2017-12-04, and the coldest night dropped to -7.5°C on 2002-12-27.
Is Side much warmer than London in December?
It is warmer, but the difference is modest. Side's average daytime high is 11°C, compared with London's 7.7°C, a gap of 3.3°C. That may make daytime outings more comfortable, but it is not a reason to leave your winter layers at home.
How long is the flight from London, and is it worth it for warmth?
The flight from London is about 4 h 36 min. For warmth alone, December is a weak choice: days are cool, rain is frequent and the sea is cold. It makes more sense if you want a change of setting without expecting beach weather.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Fatsa. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.1 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C